ALBANIA: State makes all corporal punishment of children unlawful

 [25 July 2012] - The Global Initiative is delighted to announce that Albania is added to the list of States in which children are legally protected from all forms of corporal punishment in all settings, including the home.

The Law on the Protection of the Rights of the Child (Law No. 10347, dated 4 November 2010) states in article 21 that the child shall be protected from “any form of … corporal punishment and degrading and humiliating treatment”. Corporal punishment is defined in article 3(f):

“‘Corporal punishment’ is any form of punishment resorting to the use of force aimed to cause pain or suffering, even in the slightest extent, by parents, siblings, grandparents, legal representative, relative or any other person legally responsible for the child. Corporal punishment includes such forms as: beating, torturing, violent shaking, burning, slapping, kicking, pinching, scratching, biting, scolding, forced action and use of substances to cause physical and mental discomfort.”

The Law, which came into force in May 2011, provides for its implementation through structures at central and local levels working with non-profit organisations in line with rules determined by the Council of Ministers (articles 32 to 39). Sanctions for violation of the law are provided for in article 40 and in the Criminal Code.

For further information, see the detailed country report on Albania here

 

Further Information:

pdf: http://www.endcorporalpunishment.org/pages/frame.html

Please note that these reports are hosted by CRIN as a resource for Child Rights campaigners, researchers and other interested parties. Unless otherwise stated, they are not the work of CRIN and their inclusion in our database does not necessarily signify endorsement or agreement with their content by CRIN.